Rehabilitation and exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic and/or exercise apparatus is provided for use in connection with structured, multiaxial, multi-pattern movement that aids in rehabilitation or enhances conditioning. The apparatus generally includes a base and a posture bar that is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. The posture bar is affixed to a top surface of the base and can be removable or collapsible for ease of storage. The top surface of the base also includes a recess therein for receiving one of a variety of controlled motion devices such as a rotary disk that moves freely or is restrained by resistance means or other proprioceptive tools. This feature provides a much more balanced exercise process while also naturally working the entire set of muscle groups related to the exercise rather than simply isolating a single motion or muscle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/258,697, filed Oct. 27, 2008, which is dependent on andclaims priority from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/982,846, filed Oct. 26, 2007; earlier filed U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/014,822, filed Dec. 18, 2007; and earlier filed U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/086,608, filed Aug. 6, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a device for use inconnection with rehabilitation therapy and general exercise. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a collapsible exerciseplatform that includes an interchangeable user interface mounted withinits base platform that facilitates proper exercise posture andpositioning while simultaneously working a broad range of muscle groups.

It is well known in the art that therapeutic exercise is important andis widely accepted as a means for treating and relieving a variety ofhuman disabilities. Additionally, exercise plays a crucial role in therehabilitation of patients suffering from various injuries. A physicaltherapist's role in such a rehabilitative context is to providerehabilitative professional care that individually tailors exerciseprograms to meet a patient's needs. These tailored rehabilitativeexercise programs differ depending on the type and amount of damage tothe injured area, stage of tissue healing, age of the person, and priorlevel of function of the individual prior to injury.

Some of the most common early rehabilitation methods consist ofisometric exercise, continuous passive motion (CPM) machines and/oractive assisted range of motion (ROM) performed by a therapist on apatient. While isometric exercise is a good way to initiate strengthinto newly repaired tissue, the benefits are limited in that such fixedmotion therapies as are provided through CPM are too concentratedrequiring that ROM exercises also be implemented in order for thepatient to normal or pre-surgical levels of movement. The problem withtherapist implemented ROM, however, is that such therapy is laborintensive, costly and infrequent. This then requires a return to a setof limited exercises being given to patients for a home program thatconsists usually, but not solely, of isometric muscle setting exercises.These exercises generally do not involve sufficient ranges of jointmovement and therefore have limited benefit in the rehabilitativesetting. Additionally, exercises that are usually instituted later inthe rehabilitation process utilize a resistive band and may provide lessstability to the joint making them generally less comfortable,therefore, usually yielding less patient compliance. Finally, patientsmay be given a variety of exercises that involve open and closed chainactivity. These can place an unwanted compressive or shear force on thejoints should they be performed incorrectly.

In other contexts beyond rehabilitative therapy, regular exercise isalso known to keep the body in good shape, but not all such exercise isequally effective. In fact, many of the exercise devices that aremarketed or provided in health and athletic clubs, are actually lesseffective than people realize. That is not to say that the majority ofthe exercise equipment that is provided in health clubs is notbeneficial provided that the user gets proper instruction under theguidance of a trainer. The primary issue is that most of the equipmentemployed in health clubs trains using predominantly linear, single planemovement and as a result is limited to isolating one muscle group whileallowing other muscle groups to rest. Examples of this type of exercisecan be put into two categories. The first is the leg press, a closedchain activity and the second exercise is the leg extension, which is anopen chain exercise. Generally, neither of these exercises is consideredideal for knee or hip rehabilitation. While, this type of training maybe appropriate for an athlete or one who has a balanced workout regimen,this type of isolated, open chain, planar movement is not how the bodytypically moves in reality.

Ultimately, in either of the rehabilitative or exercise contexts it mustbe understood that the body rarely moves in just one plane. Often thebody must employ multiple muscle groups and balance them in acooperative fashion to reach the desired end result. Further, most bodymovement involves rotation and diagonal patterns of movement. Forexample, taking a step requires combined movements of plantar flexion,internal hip rotation, foot pronation/supination, knee extension and hipextension. The difficulty of the overall problem can be seen in the factthat if the human body only moved in single planes it would be easy toconstruct a mechanical hand, foot or leg that mirrors human movement.However, it is very difficult to replicate such realistic human movementbecause it is not defined through such one or two-dimensional movements.

The complex nature of human movement has created a specialized field ofProprioceptive Neurofacilitation (PNF) within physical medicine. PNFbelieves that the best form of rehabilitation for musculoskeletalinjuries is implemented using diagonal patterns through multiple planesof movement. However, this treatment technique requires a purelyhands-on, manual approach and is extremely demanding of therapist skilland training. The therapist presently practicing PNF must personallytake the patient through the motions and provide appropriate resistancefor the patient's need and present physical limitations.

Accordingly, there is a need in the therapeutic and/or conditioningexercise equipment art for an apparatus that provides structured,multiaxial, multi-pattern movement that aids in rehabilitation orenhances conditioning. Further, there is a need for an apparatus thatprovides structured, multiaxial, multi-pattern movement that would allowthe patient to control for different muscle patterns and that that canbe employed equally by the average healthy person or someone recoveringfrom hip, knee or ankle injury. Further still, there is a need for adevice that enables a user to obtain multidimensional exercise that alsoprovides multiple embodiments and would allow the user to progresstoward full rehabilitation through the isolation of muscle groups bymirroring the difficulty and complexity of movement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this regard, the present invention generally provides a therapeuticand/or exercise apparatus that provides structured, multiaxial,multi-pattern movement that aids in rehabilitation or enhancesconditioning. By using the apparatus of the present invention an averagehealthy person or a patient recovering from hip, knee or ankle injurycan equally participate in exercise and rehabilitation activitiestargeted to different muscle groups and exercise patterns. As a result,the apparatus of the present invention enables a user to obtainmultidimensional exercise that allows the user to progress toward fullrehabilitation through the isolation of muscle groups by mirroring thedifficulty and complexity of realistic human movement.

The apparatus of the present invention generally includes a base portionand a posture bar that is attached to and extends upwardly from the baseportion. The posture bar is affixed to a top surface of the base portionand can be removable or collapsible for ease of storage. The posture barserves to assist the user in maintaining correct posture and/or bodyalignment during exercise activities. The base portion interfaces on abottom surface with a floor or other stable surface, while the topsurface includes a recess therein for receiving one of a variety ofcontrolled motion device such as a rotary disk that moves freely or isrestrained by resistance means or other proprioceptive tools. Thisfeature of the present invention provides a much more balanced exerciseprocess while also naturally working the entire set of muscle groupsrelated to the exercise rather than simply isolating a single motion ormuscle.

The rotary disc may further be enhanced with a locking mechanism thatcan be released to allow a full 360-degrees of rotational movement orengaged to stop the rotary disc from moving at all. Further, the rotarydisc may include an indexing mechanism that allows for a specificallydefined rotation. For example, a turn and click feature allows the discto be turned over a limited rotation in both internal and externalmovement.

Finally, the present invention provides for attachment points on thebase portion that allow various resistive or constant motion assembliesto be attached.

In this regard, resistive bands, pulleys, handles, cables and variouscombinations thereof can be attached that are employed in variousdifferent exercises while the user is positioned on the base portion.Bands are employed for constant resistive exercises while a singleresistance band may be used in combination with one or more pulley tocreate variable resistance exercises. Further the pulleys and cables maybe arranged in a looped manner that allows a constant motion typeexercise.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide atherapeutic and/or conditioning exercise equipment art for an apparatusthat provides structured, multiaxial, multi-pattern movement that aidsin rehabilitation or enhances conditioning. It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide an apparatus that provides structured,multiaxial, multi-pattern movement that requires the user to employ afull and free range of motion while performing the required exercises.It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anexercise apparatus invention that results in core strengthening throughthe use of proprioceptive tools that require that broad ranges ofmuscles be involved in each exercise rather than simply working targetedmuscle groups.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with variousfeatures of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part ofthis disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, itsoperating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention with the posture bar folded down for storage;

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the base portion of the apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of the base of the present invention with resistancebands affixed thereto; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the base of the present invention with resistancebands affixed to a user's leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention isgenerally depicted at FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 while FIGS. 4 and 5 depictvarious modes of operation for the apparatus. As can be seen, thepresent invention generally provides a therapeutic and/or exerciseapparatus for use in performing structured, multiaxial, multi-patternmovement that aids in rehabilitation or enhances conditioning. By usingthe apparatus of the present invention an average healthy person or apatient recovering from hip, knee or ankle injury can equallyparticipate in exercise and rehabilitation activities targeted todifferent muscle groups and exercise patterns. As a result, theapparatus of the present invention enables a user to obtainmultidimensional exercise that allows the user to progress toward fullrehabilitation through the isolation of muscle groups by mirroring thedifficulty and complexity of realistic human movement.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 of the present invention canbe seen to generally include a base portion 12 and a posture bar 14 thatis attached to and extends upwardly from the base portion 12. Theposture bar 14 is affixed to a top surface 16 of the base portion 12.More preferably, the posture bar 14 is affixed to the base portion 14 ina manner that allows it to be easily detached or repositioned forstorage. In this regard, the posture 14 bar may be fully removable orhingedly attached to the base portion 12 thereby allowing it to befolded against the base portion 12 for storage purposes as seen in FIG.2. The posture bar 14 is rigidly affixed to the base portion 12 of thepresent invention and serves as a reliable structural support to assistthe user in maintaining correct posture and/or body alignment so thatthe user can properly execute the various exercise activities. Inaddition, it can be seen that the height of the posture bar 14 isadjustable via the spring biased pin 18 along the side thereof and thehandles 20 are ergonomic so that the posture bar 14 facilitates perfectalignment of the user's body and so that it can accommodate users ofdiffering sizes. In operation, a user may hold onto the posture bar 14or lean their front back or side against the posture bar 14 to performexercises as will be described in more detail below. Further, thehandles 20 posture bar 14 may extend along the user's sides or fullyaround the user as well.

The base portion 12 interfaces on a bottom surface with a floor or otherstable surface. Ideally the lower surface of the base portion 12 has asufficiently wide contact surface that allows the base portion 12 toremain stable throughout various exercise activities. Additionally, thebottom surface of the base portion 12 may include a nonslip surface tokeep the apparatus from sliding across the support surface and mayfurther include small feet to support the four corners of the baseportion 12. Further, if feet are provided, they may be of the levelingtype to further enhance the stability of the base portion 12 when usedon uneven support surfaces.

The top surface 16 of the base portion 12 includes a recess 22 thereinfor receiving one of a variety of controlled motion devices. In thepreferred embodiment, as depicted in the figures, the recess 22 can beseen to include a rotary disk 24 installed therein. The rotary disk 24freely rotates within the recess 22 and relative to the base portion 12.Preferably, the rotary disk 24 is received within the recess 22 and issupported by a bearing that enhances the ability of the rotary disk 24to freely and smoothly rotate. It can also be seen that the rotary disk24 and base portion 12 include index markings 26 thereon so that therotary disk 24 is indexed relative to the base portion 12 to assist auser in positioning their body in the correct positions for the exercisethey are performing. The index markings 26 further allows a user tomeasure various performance vectors relative to range of motion. Forexample, one exercise may request that a user place their left foot ontothe rotary disk 24 with it aligned at the 12 o'clock index marking 26and then rotate it to the 9 o'clock index marking 26 to perform theexercise. Similarly, an exercise may require that a user repetitivelyrotate between the 12 o'clock position and the two o'clock position.Further, when performing various stretching and resistive exercises aswill be described in detail below, the user stands on the rotary disk 24such that they must balance their body motions in a manner that resiststhe naturally induced rotation of the rotary disk 24. For example as auser bends at the knee the foot naturally tends to pronate inducingrotation of the rotary disk 24. The exercise in turn requires that theuser resist this rotation as they bend at the knee. This featureprovides a much more balanced exercise process while also naturallyworking the entire set of muscle groups related to the exercise ratherthan simply isolating a single motion or muscle.

It should be noted in the context of the present invention that theindex markings 26 on the rotary disk 24 for indexing movement of therotary disk 24 relative to the base portion 12 are shown as analog. Suchanalog index markings 26 are not intended to be limiting on the scope ofthe invention in that the base portion 12 may employ electronics forindexing the rotation of the rotary disk 24 thereto. In this manner, therotary disk 24 may include any type of electronic indexing arrangementthereon, such as for example magnets, optical vanes, physicalprotrusions or any other means known in the art for indexing therotational movement of the rotary disk 24. Similarly, the base portion12 may include corresponding indexing devices such as an optical beamthat reads the passing optical vanes, a switch that reads the passingphysical protrusions a sensor that reads the passing magnets or a wheelthat tracks the rotation of the rotary disk 24 directly. In any case,the intent is to provide a means for reading and electronically trackingthe movement of the rotary disk 24.

Once the information regarding the rotational movement and relativeposition of the rotary disk 24 is available, such information may beutilized by the apparatus of the present invention in many ways. Forexample, the system can measure the right to left rotation and theinternal to external rotation of the same joint thereby assisting inidentifying potential injury areas. Further, a interactive screen thatshows the user various movements to be performed in order to test theusers stability and proprioception. Similarly interactive games may beemployed that detect the user's various positions including theirbalance, strength and posture to assist in rehabilitating or retrainingthe user's movements.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the base portion 12 is depicted in a close viewwherein the hinge point 28 for the attachment of the posture bar 14 canbe seen. In addition, the rotary disk 24 can be seen received in therecess 22 on top of the base portion 12. Index markings 26 can be seenboth on the top surface 16 of the base portion 12 as well as on therotary disk 24 to allow the user to align the rotary disk 24 asnecessary. Further, hooks 30 can be seen positioned along the front edgeof the base portion 12. The hooks 30 are positioned as rigid attachmentpoints for resistance bands, pulleys and the like to enhance orsupplement the various exercise routines performed using the apparatus10 of the present invention.

Turning to FIG. 4, for example, resistance bands 32 can be seen affixedto the hooks 30 and to a pin 34 on the rotary disk 24. In accordancewith the present invention, various different mechanisms may be employedwith the rotary disk 24 to enhance the overall range of featuresprovided. For example, the rotary disk 24 may be enhanced with a lockingmechanism that can be released to allow a full 360-degrees of rotationalmovement or engaged to stop the rotary disk 24 from moving at all. Inaddition, the rotary disk 24 may include an internal variable resistancearrangement. This may include extensible resistance bands 32 that areaffixed to the hooks 30 that are positioned either under or above therotary disk 24 or an adjustable band clamp that engages against abraking drum under or above the rotary disk 24 thereby resistingrotation of the rotary disk 24 in an adjustable and variable manner.Alternately, the variable resistance arrangement may be magnetic whereinthe increase of voltage applied to an electromagnetic coil will serve toincrease the overall force required to cause the rotary disk 24 to turn.This arrangement allows the user to have more control over the movementof the disc and also can serve to provide additional resistance thatenhances the exercise routine as the user's body must work against theadditional resistance. It also allows the variable resistance mechanismto work in concert with the electronic indexing arrangement to controlor limit rotation of the rotary disk 24. Further, the rotary disk 24 mayinclude a mechanical indexing mechanism that allows for a specificallydefined rotation. For example, a turn and click feature allows therotary disk 24 to be turned over a limited rotation in both internal andexternal movement.

In addition to the rotary disk 24, the present invention anticipatesthat other proprioceptive tools can be inserted into the recess 22including but not limited to a rocker board similar to a see-saw, a balldevice or a soft surface. These additional tools assist in enhancingbalance while involving various muscle groups in the lower extremitiesas well as posture related muscles in the back throughout the exerciseprocess.

Turning to FIG. 5, the present invention can be seen to further provideattachment points such as the hooks 30 on the base portion 12 that allowvarious resistive or constant motion assemblies to be attached. In thisregard, resistive bands, pulleys, handles, cables and variouscombinations thereof can be attached that are employed in variousdifferent exercises while the user is positioned on the base portion.Resistive bands 32 are employed for constant resistive exercises while asingle resistance band 32 may be used in combination with one or morepulley to create variable resistance exercises. Further, the pulleys andcables may be arranged in a looped manner that allows a constant motiontype exercise.

It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides an exerciseand rehabilitation tool that requires the user to employ a full and freerange of motion while performing the required exercises. Thisarrangement allows testing and isolation of certain muscle groups forstrength testing while the body is maintained in a correct anatomicalposition. Further, the present invention allows core strengthening inthat rather than simply working targeted muscle groups, theproprioceptive tools require that broad ranges of muscles be involved ineach exercise. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed torepresent a significant advancement in the art, which has substantialcommercial merit.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms hereinshown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of theappended claims.

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a base portion having a top surfaceand a receiver thereon; a posture bar affixed to the base portion andextending upwardly therefrom; a proprioceptive tool received in saidreceiver on said base portion, wherein said proprioceptive tool is arotary disk that rotates freely relative to said base portion; and ameasurement device to determine a rotational position of the rotary diskrelative to the base portion.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1,wherein said rotary disk that has limited rotation relative to said baseportion.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotary diskthat rotates to a plurality of indexed positions relative to said baseportion.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said measurementdevice generates an electronic signal that reports the rotationalposition of the rotary disk relative to the base portion.
 5. Theexercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electronic signal is used tomeasure the right to left rotation and the internal to external rotationof the same joint thereby assisting in identifying potential injuryareas.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electronicsignal is used to show the user various movements to be performed inorder to test the users stability and proprioception.
 7. The exerciseapparatus of claim 4, wherein said electronic signal is used withinteractive games that detect the user's various positions includingtheir balance, strength and posture to assist in rehabilitating orretraining the user's movements.
 8. An exercise apparatus comprising: abase portion having a top surface and a receiver thereon; a posture baraffixed to the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom; aproprioceptive tool received in said receiver on said base portion,wherein said proprioceptive tool is a rotary disk that rotates freelyrelative to said base portion; and a variable resistance mechanism thatcontrols or limits rotation of the rotary disk relative to said baseportion.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said variableresistance mechanism is magnetic.
 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 8,wherein said variable resistance mechanism is electromagnetic.
 11. Theexercise apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a measurement deviceto determine a rotational position of the rotary disk relative to thebase portion.
 12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein saidmeasurement device generates an electronic signal that reports therotational position of the rotary disk relative to the base portion. 13.The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein said electronic signal isused in connection with said variable resistance mechanism to control orlimit rotation of the rotary disk relative to said base portion.